Vacuum, pressure or liquid pump

ABSTRACT

It comprises driving means ( 2 ), with shaft ( 5 ), connected to an eccentric ( 8 ), at least two membranes that block a similar number of apertures ( 4 ) in a box ( 1 ), characterised in that it comprises: connecting rod  6 , the centre of which houses a single bearing ( 9 ) for each eccentric ( 8 ), through which referred shaft ( 5 ) passes, and at least two actuators ( 7 ) that join membranes ( 3 ) to connecting rod ( 6 ), with said actuators ( 7 ) articulated to connecting rod ( 6 ).

This application is a U.S. National Phase under 35 USC 371 of PCTApplication No. PCT/ES2009/070603 filed Dec. 17, 2009, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein.

Vacuum, pressure or liquid pump, of the type that comprises drivingmeans with a shaft connected to an eccentric, at least two membranesthat block a similar number of apertures in a box, characterised in thatit comprises: a connecting rod, in whose centre houses a single bearingfor each eccentric through which the referred shaft passes and at leasttwo actuators that join the membranes to the connecting rod, being saidactuators articulating with the connecting rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of pumps is known in the state of the art, with one or twoheads, one on each side of the motor, or even two on the same side(opposite with traditional connecting rods and a similar number ofbearings). If more extraction capacity is required additional, heads canbe added, or they can be over-dimensioned, which involves the use of asmany connecting rods, bearings and membranes as required heads,increasing sizes and motor powers.

Thus, Spanish utility model 0244030 “A DEPRESSION OR VACUUM MEMBRANEPUMP” is known from 1979, in the name of PIERBURG BMBH & CO.KG, whichrefers to a depression or vacuum membrane pump, especially forconditioning automobile elements, such as servo brakes, the membrane ofwhich is operated from a main shaft via a connecting rod and the chamberthat is next to the head is sealed against the atmosphere, the chamberis connecting with the atmosphere by means of at least one valve thatallows access the air and prevents the air exit from chamber to theatmosphere. In a similar fashion another valve performs the same processto expulse the air.

It is known in the state of the art the document FR2049347, in the nameof Albert Cozic, that refers to bilge pump for a boat or vessel of anytype is provided which is operative in response to any movement of theboat in which the pump is provided, such as pitching or rolling. Thepump includes preferably two or three diaphragm-type pumps mounted in ahousing. A vertical shaft is rotatably mounted in a housing, the shaftis secured to an unbalanced mass exterior responsive to the movements ofthe boat to effect the rotation of the shaft. The end of the shaftremote from the end at which the mass is secured comprises an eccentricjournal which is connected to a two- or three-arm member by a bearingand whose arms are in turn connected to the diaphragms for operatingsame successively to take in bilge water through intake pipes and valvesand discharge same through outlet valves and pipes.

The driving means of pump are an unbalanced mass and do not comprise anymotor. The movements of the mass depend on movements of the sea, whichare variable by its nature. Actually, this document forms part of theprior art in respect to bilge pumps for a boat or vessel which areoperative only in the sea.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This application is framed within the sector of vacuum, pressure andliquid pumps.

With this invention, the inventor intends to operate with a singleconnecting rod, more heads, in other words, using a single connectingrod, be able to place as many actuators with membranes as permitted theconnecting rod size, so that, to larger size of the connecting rod,greater number of actuators can be operate. This results in economicsavings for both the manufacturer and the end buyer.

This means that the need for independent regulation of force centringand work loads is eliminated. Currently, each head incorporated into thepump requires a different load point along the shaft for each one. Thisinvention uses a single bearing for each eccentric on which point allforces are balanced and stabilised. This is because only one connectingrod is required independently of the number of heads.

Thus, greater performances are obtained with less space because asmaller pump can provide identical or even better results than largerpumps. Similarly, this means that this smaller size leads to significantspace and weight savings.

In this way, the present pump can operate a determined number ofmembranes with the same connecting rod and all forces caused by theheads and membranes are centred with respect to each other at the sameworking point. When an expulsion force is generated, another intakeforce is produced at the opposite point, with these being equal at allcycle points.

One objective of this invention is a vacuum, pressure or liquid pump, ofthe type comprising driving means with a shaft connected to aneccentric, at least two membranes that block a similar number ofapertures in a box, characterised in that it comprises: a connectingrod, the centre of which houses a single bearing for each eccentricthrough which the referred shaft passes and at least two actuators thatjoin the membranes to the connecting rod, with said actuatorsarticulating with the connecting rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate the description, this report is accompanied byfour sheets of drawings that represent a practical exemplary embodiment,which is given as an example that does not limit the scope of thisinvention.

FIG. 1 is a general view of the invention, in which the membranes andheads have been eliminated.

FIG. 2 is a close-up without the box, membranes and heads.

FIG. 3 is a close-up of an actuator, a part that is connected by meansof a hinge joint to the connecting rod.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the invention applied to an end product.

SPECIFIC EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THIS INVENTION

Thus, FIG. 1 illustrates a box 1, driving means or motor 2, apertures inthe box 4, which houses the membranes and heads, a shaft 5, an eccentric8, a connecting rod 6, actuators 7 and the connecting rod pass-throughorifices 10 (at the actuator 7 positions).

FIG. 2 shows driving means 2, connecting rod 6, eccentric 8, shaft 5,connecting rod pass-through orifices 10 and actuators 7.

FIG. 3 illustrates the actuator 7 that is joined to the connecting rodvia the actuator pass-through orifice 11, with a pin to form a hingejoint.

Lastly, FIG. 4 represents box 1, heads 3, box apertures 4, connectingrod 6, actuators 7, shaft 5, connecting rod pass-through orifices 10,pins 12 that form hinges joints and a bearing 9 housing the eccentric.

Thus, in a specific exemplary embodiment, the product is basicallyconfigured as follows: it comprises a box 1, driving means 2, with shaft5 connected to eccentric 8, two membranes (as many as necessary, three,four, six, despite the fact that, although there are two in thisembodiment, they cannot be seen because they are housed inside), whichblock the orifices in box 4 of cited box 1.

Regarding actuators 7 and the membranes, it is possible to configure asmany as desired, starting with two by taking into account the positionsof actuators 7 so that they compensate the forces as well as possible.For example, with three actuators 7, each one could be positioned at120°, which would then largely balance the forces. Five actuators wouldbe positioned every 72° and so on according to the desired number. Theidea is to divide the circumference by the desired number of actuators7.

Unlike known pumps, this invention includes a single bearing 9 for eacheccentric 8.

It also comprises connecting rod 6, the centre of which houses a singlebearing 9, through which the referred shaft 5 passes and at least twoactuators 7 that connect the membranes housed inside heads 3 toconnecting rod 6, with said actuators 7 articulating with connecting rod6 by, for example, pins.

When motor 2 is switched on, it turns shaft 5 which, by means ofeccentric 8 produces a similar movement of connecting rod 6.

Actuators 7 are articulated to connecting rod 6 by joints that employpins 12 in this embodiment to form hinge joints.

Moreover, in this invention the connecting rods 6 partially houseactuators 7 just as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. In this embodiment,connecting rod 6 articulates by means of a first pass-through orifice 10through which actuator 7 passes, facing it via pin 12 (FIG. 4), whichpasses through actuator 7, leaving both pass-through orifices 10 and 11aligned (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4).

This enables actuators 7 to continue pushing the membranes housed insidehead 3 so that they continue to block and unblock the respectiveentrances and exits inside head 3. Even when the eccentric movement isproduced, the connecting rod forces that the movement on the membrane islinear because actuator 7 articulation on connecting rod 6 allows anymembranes position to be recovered while these maintain their respectivepositions over apertures 4.

In fact, connecting rod 6 becomes the connection between actuator 7 andbearing 9 and eccentric 8, thus permitting the membranes to work andadapt to any position as forced by the eccentric.

This invention patent describes a new vacuum, pressure or liquid pump.The exemplary embodiments descried here do not limit this invention,which can have various applications and/or adaptations within the scopeof the following claims.

1. A vacuum, pressure or liquid pump, of the type comprising drivingmeans (2), with shaft (5), connected to an eccentric (8), at least twomembranes that block a same number of apertures (4) in a box (1),characterised in that it comprises: Single connecting rod (6), thecentre of which houses a single bearing (9) for each eccentric (8),through which referred shaft (5) passes, At least two actuators (7) thatjoin membranes (3) to connecting rod (6), with said actuators (7)articulated to connecting rod (6), and said driving means are a motor(2).
 2. A pump, in accordance with claim 1 characterised in thatconnecting rod (6) partially houses actuators (7) and articulates withthe same by means of a first pass-through orifice (10), through whichconnecting rod (6) passes, facing a second pass-through orifice (11),through which actuator (7) passes, so that both pass-through orifices(10, 11) are joined by a pin (12).
 3. A pump, in accordance with claim 1characterised in that actuators (7) are articulated in an equidistantmanner from each other to the connecting rod (6).